TABLE OF ... · Brian J. Camposano, Kenneth L. Krysko, Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael...
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IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 22(3):95–97 • SEP 2015 Predation on the Rosario Red-legged Frog, Eleutherodactylus zugi (Eleutherodactylidae), by the Cuban Mosquitofish, Gambusia punctata (Poeciliidae) in western Cuba Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera 1 and Rodet Rodríguez Silva 2 1 Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos, Pepito Tey, Cienfuegos, CP 59290, Cuba ([email protected]) 2 División de Zoología de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, La Habana, CP 10800, Cuba ([email protected] and [email protected]) Photographs by the senior author. 95 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY Copyright © 2015. Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera. All rights reserved. WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNAL T he Cuban Archipelago harbors among the greatest diver- sity and endemism in the frog genus Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylidae) in the West Indies, with 59 spe- cies, 98.3% of which are endemic (Estrada 2012; Rivalta et al. 2014; Díaz and Hedges 2015). This is exceeded only by Hispaniola, with 65 native species, all of which are endemic (Henderson and Powell 2009; Powell 2012; Incháustegui et al. 2015). Several predators have been reported for adults and eggs of these frogs in the insular Caribbean, including insects (Megaselia, Paratrechina, Linepithema, Amphiacusta), arachnids (Avicularia, Ctenus, Mastigoproctus, Ohvida, Olios, Phrynus, Stasina, Tityus, and ctenizid and corinnid spiders), centipedes (Scolopendra), millipedes (Liomus), snails (Caracolus, Polydontes, Subulina), frogs (Eleutherodactylus, Osteopilus), liz- ards (Ameiva, Anolis, Sphaerodactylus, Thecadactylus), snakes (Alsophis, Arrhyton, Borikenophis, Caraiba, Chilabothrus, Chironius, Corallus, Cubophis, Erythrolamprus, Hypsirhynchus, Ialtris, Magliophis, Mastigodryas, Tropidophis), birds (Bubulcus, Buteo, Margarops, Melanerpes, Megascops, Coccyzus, Turdus), and mammals (Felis, Rattus, Urva; see Henderson and Powell 2009 for a review). Nonetheless, these predators have been reported for only 23 species of Eleutherodactylus (for a review see Henderson and Powell 2009; Alfonso et al. 2013; Díaz et al. 2015), which represent a low proportion (14%) with respect to the approximately 165 species occurring in the West Indies. However, native fishes have not been reported preying either on Eleutherodactylus or any other frogs in the West Indies. In Cuba, predators have been confirmed only for six species of Eleutherodactylus (10%): E. atkinsi, E. cuneatus, E. dimidiatus, E. iberia, E. cf. thomasi, and E. zugi (for a review see Henderson and Powell 2009, but also Alfonso et al. 2013; Díaz et al. 2015). The Rosario Red-legged Frog, Eleutherodactylus zugi (Fig. 1), is a small (20 mm), rela- tively common endemic distributed in the Guaniguanico Mountain Range, Artemisa and Pinar del Río Provinces in western Cuba (Díaz and Cádiz 2009; Rivalta et al. 2014). It is always associated with forested areas, where it inhabits leaf litter, occurs under rocks and fallen logs, and occupies lime- stone holes (Díaz and Cádiz 2009). This species is considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Hedges and Díaz 2004, 2011). Consequently, an awareness of all potential threats, both natural and anthropogenic, is of major importance for the development and implementation of effective manage- ment plans. The only predators known for this frog are the ctenid spider Ohvida vernalis (formerly referred as Ctenus vernalis; Novo et al. 1985) and a whip spider in the genus Phrynus (Alonso and Rodríguez 2003). Herein we report the first instance of predation by the Cuban Mosquitofish, Gambusia punctata (Poeciliidae), on E. zugi. This constitutes both the first record of fishes preying on Eleutherodactylus Fig. 1. Live Rosario Red-legged Frog (Eleutherodatylus zugi) from the same locality and exhibiting the same color pattern as the individual observed being predated by Cuban Mosquitofish (Gambusia punctata) on the Cajálbana Plateau, Pinar del Río Province.
Transcript of TABLE OF ... · Brian J. Camposano, Kenneth L. Krysko, Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael...
IRCFREPTILES&HIBIANS•22(3):95–97•SEP2015
Predation on the Rosario Red-legged Frog, Eleutherodactylus zugi (Eleutherodactylidae),
by the Cuban Mosquitofish, Gambusia punctata (Poeciliidae) in western Cuba
Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera1 and Rodet Rodríguez Silva2
1JardínBotánicodeCienfuegos,PepitoTey,Cienfuegos,CP59290,Cuba([email protected])2DivisióndeZoologíadeVertebrados,InstitutodeEcologíaySistemática,LaHabana,CP10800,Cuba([email protected]@gmail.com)
Photographsbytheseniorauthor.
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IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • VOL15, NO 4 • DEC 2008 189TABLE OF CONTENTS
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
F E A T U R E A R T I C L E S
Chasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin: On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer 190
The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: A Hypothetical Excursion ............................................................................................................................Robert W. Henderson 198
R E S E A R C H A R T I C L E S
The Texas Horned Lizard in Central and Western Texas ....................... Emily Henry, Jason Brewer, Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry 204 The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida
.............................................Brian J. Camposano, Kenneth L. Krysko, Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael Granatosky 212
C O N S E R V A T I O N A L E R T
World’s Mammals in Crisis ............................................................................................................................................................. 220 More Than Mammals ...................................................................................................................................................................... 223 The “Dow Jones Index” of Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................................... 225
H U S B A N D R Y
Captive Care of the Central Netted Dragon ....................................................................................................... Shannon Plummer 226
P R O F I L E
Kraig Adler: A Lifetime Promoting Herpetology ................................................................................................ Michael L. Treglia 234
C O M M E N T A R Y
The Turtles Have Been Watching Me ........................................................................................................................ Eric Gangloff 238
B O O K R E V I E W
Threatened Amphibians of the World edited by S.N. Stuart, M. Hoffmann, J.S. Chanson, N.A. Cox, R. Berridge, P. Ramani, and B.E. Young .............................................................................................................. Robert Powell 243
CONSERVATION RESEARCH REPORTS: Summaries of Published Conservation Research Reports ................................. 245 NATURAL HISTORY RESEARCH REPORTS: Summaries of Published Reports on Natural History ................................. 247 NEWBRIEFS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 248 EDITORIAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 251 FOCUS ON CONSERVATION: A Project You Can Support ............................................................................................... 252
Front Cover. Shannon Plummer.Totat et velleseque audant mo estibus inveliquo velique rerchil erspienimus, quos accullabo. Ilibus aut dolor apicto invere pe dolum fugiatis maionsequat eumque moditia erere nonsedis ma sectiatur ma derrovitae voluptam, as quos accullabo.
Back Cover. Michael KernTotat et velleseque audant mo
estibus inveliquo velique rerchil erspienimus, quos accullabo. Ilibus
aut dolor apicto invere pe dolum fugiatis maionsequat eumque
moditia erere nonsedis ma sectia-tur ma derrovitae voluptam, as
IRC
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REPTILES & AMPHIBIANSC O N S E R V AT I O N A N D N AT U R A L H I S T O R Y
Copyright©2015.TomásM.Rodríguez-Cabrera.Allrightsreserved.
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TheCubanArchipelagoharborsamongthegreatestdiver-sityandendemisminthefroggenusEleutherodactylus
(Eleutherodactylidae) in theWest Indies, with 59 spe-cies,98.3%ofwhichareendemic(Estrada2012;Rivaltaetal.2014;DíazandHedges2015).ThisisexceededonlybyHispaniola,with65nativespecies,allofwhichareendemic(HendersonandPowell2009;Powell2012; Incháusteguietal.2015).SeveralpredatorshavebeenreportedforadultsandeggsofthesefrogsintheinsularCaribbean,includinginsects(Megaselia, Paratrechina, Linepithema, Amphiacusta),arachnids(Avicularia, Ctenus, Mastigoproctus, Ohvida, Olios, Phrynus, Stasina, Tityus,andctenizidandcorinnidspiders),centipedes(Scolopendra),millipedes(Liomus),snails(Caracolus, Polydontes, Subulina),frogs(Eleutherodactylus, Osteopilus),liz-ards(Ameiva, Anolis, Sphaerodactylus, Thecadactylus),snakes(Alsophis, Arrhyton, Borikenophis, Caraiba, Chilabothrus, Chironius, Corallus, Cubophis, Erythrolamprus, Hypsirhynchus, Ialtris, Magliophis, Mastigodryas, Tropidophis),birds(Bubulcus, Buteo, Margarops, Melanerpes, Megascops, Coccyzus, Turdus),andmammals(Felis, Rattus, Urva;seeHendersonandPowell2009forareview).Nonetheless,thesepredatorshavebeenreportedforonly23speciesofEleutherodactylus(forareviewseeHendersonandPowell2009;Alfonsoetal.2013;Díazetal.2015),whichrepresentalowproportion(14%)withrespecttotheapproximately165speciesoccurringintheWestIndies.However,nativefisheshavenotbeenreportedpreyingeitheron EleutherodactylusoranyotherfrogsintheWestIndies. InCuba,predatorshavebeenconfirmedonly for sixspecies of Eleutherodactylus (10%):E. atkinsi, E. cuneatus, E. dimidiatus, E. iberia, E. cf. thomasi, and E. zugi (forareviewseeHendersonandPowell2009,butalsoAlfonsoetal.2013;Díazetal.2015).TheRosarioRed-leggedFrog,Eleutherodactylus zugi (Fig. 1), is a small (20mm), rela-
tivelycommonendemicdistributed intheGuaniguanicoMountain Range, Artemisa and Pinar del Río Provinces in westernCuba(DíazandCádiz2009;Rivaltaetal.2014).Itisalwaysassociatedwithforestedareas,whereitinhabitsleaflitter,occursunderrocksandfallenlogs,andoccupieslime-stoneholes(DíazandCádiz2009).ThisspeciesisconsideredEndangeredontheIUCNRedList(HedgesandDíaz2004,2011).Consequently,anawarenessofallpotentialthreats,bothnaturalandanthropogenic,isofmajorimportanceforthedevelopmentandimplementationofeffectivemanage-mentplans.Theonlypredatorsknownforthisfrogarethectenid spider Ohvida vernalis (formerlyreferredasCtenus vernalis;Novoetal.1985)andawhipspiderinthegenusPhrynus (AlonsoandRodríguez2003).HereinwereportthefirstinstanceofpredationbytheCubanMosquitofish,Gambusia punctata(Poeciliidae),onE. zugi.ThisconstitutesboththefirstrecordoffishespreyingonEleutherodactylus
Fig. 1. LiveRosarioRed-leggedFrog(Eleutherodatylus zugi)fromthesamelocalityandexhibitingthesamecolorpatternastheindividualobservedbeingpredatedbyCubanMosquitofish (Gambusia punctata) on theCajálbanaPlateau,PinardelRíoProvince.
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frogsandthefirstrecordoffrogsaspreyofthemosquitofishgenus Gambusia intheWestIndies. At 1124 h on 26 April 2015, we observed anEleutherodactylus zugi (18mmsnout-ventlength)beingpre-datedbyCubanMosquitofish(G. punctata)inashallowpool(approximately4mlong,2mwide,and35cmmaximumdepth)ofastreamonthesouthernslopeoftheCajálbanaPlateau(22°46’50”N,-83°26’21”W;150masl;datum:WGS84),450mNEofthebiologicalstationattheCajálbanaFloristicReserve,PinardelRíoProvince,Cuba(Figs.2and3).Whenfound,anadultfemalemosquitofish(64mmtotallength,55mmstandardlength)(Figs.4and5)hadgrabbedandentirelyswallowedthelefthindlimbofthefrog,whichwasaliveandtryingtoescape.Afewminuteslater,thefishreleasedthefrogandothersmallerGambusia commenced to attackitinafeeding-frenzy(Fig.3).Whencollected,thefroghaddiedandlostsomefleshfromthelefthindlimbandtherightforelimb(Fig.5).Inordertoidentifythefrog,wecol-lectedit,presumingthatthemosquitofishwouldotherwiseconsumeitentirely.Boththefrogandthelargestfemalemos-quitofisharedepositedintheIchthyologicalCollectionoftheZoological Collections, Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, LaHabana,Cuba(voucher:CZACC-9.63). InCuba,themosquitofishgenusGambusia comprises three currently recognized species (Ponce de León andRodríguez2010).Gambusia punctata (Fig.4) is an endemic freshwaterspecieswidelydistributedonthemainislandandonIsladelaJuventud,whereitinhabitsbothloticandlenticecosystemsinlowlandandmontanezones(PoncedeLeónandRodríguez2010).Itisarelativelylargespeciesinthefam-ilyPoeciliidae,withfemalesattainingtotallengthsapproach-ing100mm(Poey1854;PoncedeLeónandRodríguez2010).It isahighlyvoraciousandopportunisticsurface-
swimmerthatfeedsoninsectsandtheirlarvae,arachnids,myriapods,mollusks,crustaceans,protozoans,andvegetablematter(Vergara1992;Fongetal.1996;PoncedeLeónandRodríguez2013).However,untilnow,novertebrateshadbeenreportedaspreyofthisspecies. Thestreamwhereweobservedthepredationeventisoneofthenearly40streambasinsaroundtheCajálbanaPlateauthatfragmentintopoolsorevendryupcompletelyduringthedryseason.Theareaischaracterizedbyredfossilferriticsoilsandcoveredmostlybypinewoodsandxeromorphicevergreenscrubwoods(Borhidi1991).FrogsinthegenusEleutherodactylusdevelopintheegganddonotrequirewatertoreproduce.Probablyduetotheharshconditionsimposedbythedryseason,enhancedbythecharacteristicsofthesoiland vegetation, non-riparian frogs of several species, including E. zugi,concentratearoundthehumidmicrohabitatsassoci-atedwithremainingpoolsinstreambedsinremnantpatchesofgalleryforest(TMRC,pers.obs.).Wepresumethatthiscaseofpredationoccurredwhenthefrogaccidentallyjumpedintothewaterwhilemosquitofishwereactivelyforaging.
IRCFREPTILES&HIBIANS•22(3):95–97•SEP2015RODRÍGUEZ-CABRERA1ANDRODRÍGUEZSILVA
Fig. 2. StreampoolontheCajálbanaPlateau,PinardelRíoProvince,whereweobservedpredationbytheCubanMosquitofish(Gambusia punc-tata)onaRosarioRed-leggedFrog(Eleutherodatylus zugi).
Fig. 3. Close-upviewofthepoolshowingsmallerCubanMosquitofish(Gambusia punctata)attackingaRosarioRed-leggedFrog(Eleutherodatylus zugi)(arrow)afterthelargestfemale(whitecircle)hadreleasedit.
Fig. 4. LiveCubanMosquitofish(Gambusia punctata)(largestfemale)observedpredatingaRosarioRed-leggedFrog(Eleutherodatylus zugi)ontheCajálbanaPlateau,PinardelRíoProvince.
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AcknowledgementsWethankSheilaRodríguez,AnselFong,JavierTorres,andRuben Marrero for providing literature and/or useful com-mentsonthemanuscript.WealsothankSheylaYongforhelpingusupdatethenamesofinsectpredatorsreportedforEleutherodactylus.WealsothanktheadministrationoftheMilCumbresProtectedArea,particularlycustodiansandthestafffromtheCajálbanaFloristicReserve,fortheirhospitalityduringtheexpedition.ThisworkwasundertakenwiththesupportofTheMohamedbinZayedSpeciesConservationFund(projectno.14059847)forthejuniorauthorandTheRuffordFoundation(ID:15393–1)fortheseniorauthor.
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Fig. 5. CollectedspecimensoftheCubanMosquitofish(Gambusia punctata)(largestfemale)andtheRosarioRed-leggedFrog(Eleutherodatylus zugi)fromtheCajálbanaPlateau,PinardelRíoProvince.
